Best Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies Recipe For Holidays

Bursting with the festive zest of fresh cranberries and oranges, these Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies are a holiday treasure. Unlike others, they boast crunchy bits of tart berries paired beautifully with sweet citrus flavor. Simple and delightful, these festive handmade cookies are a perfect addition to your holiday table, ensuring every bite is as fresh and joyous as the season itself.

Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies

Ingredients:

Fresh Cranberries (Preferably not frozen due to moisture)
Fresh Orange Zest (Tangerine zest can be a distinctive alternative)
Unsalted Butter
Granulated Sugar
All-Purpose Flour
Vanilla Extract (Almond extract is a possible substitute)

Step-by-step Instructions

Preparing the Dough

Chop Cranberries: Finely chop the cranberries, preferably using a small food processor to achieve a mix of textures.
Mix Ingredients: Ensure your butter is at room temperature to easily incorporate with the flour. Mix in the granulated sugar, all-purpose flour, the chosen extract, and the zests of your citrus to form your dough. Key to shortbread is ensuring no dry bits remain; the dough should be uniform with the butter fully integrated.
Forming the Dough: Combine the dough into a cohesive form, ready for shaping. If using a processor, this can be the final phase of mixing. If by hand, ensure a lightly floured surface to bring everything together without sticking.

Shaping and Baking

Shape the Cookies: Traditionally, shortbread cookies can be formed into a log and chilled before slicing into discs for baking. This allows the cookies to firm up and slice cleanly.
Baking: Bake in a preheated oven until they just begin to turn golden around the edges. The texture can vary based on thickness; thinner cookies will be crispier, while thicker ones, softer.

Freezing Instructions

Before Baking: Wrap the log of dough thoroughly (plastic wrap, then foil, and finally a zip-lock bag) and freeze. Thaw in the refrigerator before slicing and baking.
Baked Cookies: Allow to cool completely, then store in layers separated by parchment in a freezer container.

Additional Tips

Room temperature butter is crucial for a successful dough.
Chop the cranberries to your preference but keep some texture.
Adjust bake time based on desired final texture—softer or crisper.